Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1887-03-27
GOOD AND BGD LANGUAGE.
Varying Opinions as 20 what COnsti-
tutes Correct speech.
IBosion TraAseript.l


In the Forum, few months ago,
Bishop Coke appeared as the author Of
some severe remarks coHoernine the use
of the adveEb between ito" and the in
finitive. Mr.. Gladstone, tvO or three
other writers, and two articles IN Temple
Bar, we're noted by him as furnishing
Instances Of ths locution, which be de-
nOunces Rs illogical and vulRar, and
Charles Dickens is named as the possi-
bic carrier OF the fashisR from Ameri
can "tap. rooms" 10 England. To all
this q writer in the Ndtios replies at
length. de scqHits Dickens Of the
charge of this attempt to debase bis
mother toneus, the fathion being as old
as Wyclin. Oher reputable authors, IN
whose works this firm Of speech occurs.
are: Bishop Dlane. SIR Thomas BfOwn,
Dr.. johnson, Barke, Southey, ColeFId9e.
Lamb and De Qaincey. Later writer's.
contemporary with or following Dick
ems, WOO have been so illogical and Wi
gar as to separate With an adverb the
Ionnitivs and IL si9a are Raskln, Spen-
Ger. Browning, Matthew Arnold and
Leslie Stephen. Bishop Coke also de
claims against several ether fashions
Of speech which are followed by writers
great and small. There Is reliable"
for example. he is greatly wr1th At
finding this "AbominAble barbarian" 10
Liddon. The writer IN the Nation notes
that IL il also found in the works Of Car
dual NeWmau. Dean MAnsel, J. ).
Mill, Leslie Stephen and Gladstone.
There IL also 3 work by DIR. Hall
''On Abls and Reliable" Another letter
IN this weeks Haii0n greatly extends
the list of good writers asin0 these
words. Pie Bishop 10 made unhapIy
by the sight Of talented" ''leAgthy,
being b1ilt," aHd other words, ana TO
displeasnre Will probably follow misery
on Learning that some treatise on
grammar authorize . progressive pas
sIvs form 30 aeemmedate the phrase 'is
being built"
Tue catalogue Of words and phrases
which exeitea tbs Bishops ire need not
be contiuued. Bat 70 IL well to note
thai, Ike every one Who ess set himself
up ss diStator Of correct spsech, b. u
BY no means free from error IN bis Own
writing. Thus be uses rationale" when
''ress N" voaid fully answer. De says
that Canning ~cosfessed" something
instead of acknowledged" "innasn
siAl'' - denoasesa By tim - Vulgar. ont
be says in this connection" Shieh Ger
tainly, 10 not elegant
In all discus ions over the use Of
words tgo important points are general
IL lost sight Of by the dispatznts-idio-
matte pec1liAritiss, which are oftes N
tAssnlstio 20 grammatical rules. aBd
changes 10 fashion OF speaking. kloh
ard Grant White tined 0ard % ureak np
the ace of the verb 10 81" II 81 in
tFansitIvs sense - applied 20 tne sAs's
daily dislppeArs1cc. Bat English
speaking people Uiil probably 90 90
saying tie san bas 81" for several cen
turles longer. TIE cohesive moan hss
long be o vArlo1sly used oy writers Of
aekn0Wls Rsd c1itars - singular OF
plnrAl. - fAucf or asAke dlclAtsJ- Io
older days tue pluFsl idea UAs mole
oommon than nee. Thes even seat %
far Is 10 say ~tho-e kiad." For years
AID years and years the grznGsrs 10
sisted on calling tie prono0a "toa
glarai. after deanIng piaral ~ siGnify-
lus "naa4s than o1&." Baa writers And
sPsAksss svsEywbsre. u 80 QaAksFs,